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Innovative strategy for implementing chronic heart failure guidelines among family physicians in different healthcare settings in Berlin.

AbstractAIMS:
The aim of this study was to improve drug therapy for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
This prospective interventional pilot study was performed with cross-sectional comparative analysis before and after the intervention. Usual pharmacotherapy was observed for 8 months in two different outpatient healthcare settings in Berlin [11 family physicians from individual GP (IGP) practices and 12 working in a medical care centre (MCC)]. Medical care centres provide a novel structure for outpatient care and have recently been introduced in Germany. The subsequent intervention entailed implementation of heart failure guidelines via a computer-based reminder system, followed by renewed cross-sectional observation of prescription behaviour for 1 year. Family physicians recruited patients, assessed CHF severity according to the NYHA class, and referred patients for echocardiography. The study included 190 patients in the baseline phase and 209 in the intervention phase. Longitudinal follow-up was performed in 172 cases. Echocardiography was ordered by 94.6% of MCC-physicians and 79.9% of IGP's. Undermedication was observed in both settings. Guideline-based beta-blocker therapy was prescribed for 46.3% of patients (44.8% of IGPs and 48.5% of MCC-GPs). Prescription improved by 12.3% after the intervention. There were marked deficiencies in the prescription of aldosterone antagonists (35%) for severe heart failure, which improved to 44.2% after the intervention.
CONCLUSION:
The problem of inadequate implementation of evidence-based therapy for CHF was partially overcome by using the reminder system, which provided participating physicians with short guideline recommendations during the intervention phase.
AuthorsVittoria Braun, Christoph Heintze, Veronika Rufer, Justus Welke, Tanja Stein, Felix Mehrhof, Lorena Dini
JournalEuropean journal of heart failure (Eur J Heart Fail) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. 93-9 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 1879-0844 [Electronic] England
PMID20947573 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Diuretics
Topics
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (therapeutic use)
  • Adult
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists (therapeutic use)
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
  • Antihypertensive Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Berlin
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diffusion of Innovation
  • Diuretics (therapeutic use)
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence (statistics & numerical data)
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Heart Failure (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physicians, Family (standards)
  • Pilot Projects
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reminder Systems (statistics & numerical data)
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Ultrasonography

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